Apparatus for handling of grain in bulk



A. E. HEATH.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING 0F GRAIN IN BULK.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.4, 1919.

1,390.032. Patendsept. 6, 192m 3 SHEETS-SHED' I.

A. E. HEATH. APPARATUS Fon HANDLING oF GRAIN IN BULK.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.4. 1919.

A. E. HEATH.

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING 0F GRAIN IN BULK.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-4, 1919.. l

,Pawndsept s, 192.1..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

` UNITED Prem OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR lLANIDLINGr OF GRAIN -IN BULK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. e, 1921..

Application led December 4,l 19,19. Serial No. 342,462.y

(GRANTED UNDER THE raovisions or rim Acror Manen 3,1921, 41` STAT. L., i313.)

To all whom t may concern: j

Be it known that I, ,llnniznw EDWIN HEATH, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident previously of Tandridge, Nyah, near Swan Hill, in the county of Tatchera, but now of 9() Francis Street, Yarraville, inthe-.city of Footscray, a suburb ofthe city yof Melbourne, in the county of Bourke, both in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth 'of Australia, (whose post oiceaddress is 90 Francis Street, Yarraville, in the said cityof Footscray,) have `invented certain new and useful Improve`- 'j for transporting the grain and also provides a ready meansf'or weighing the grain before delivery thereof. rllhe invention further provides for the storage of the grain, if desired. and does not involve the farmer in a heavy initial outlay or in continuous maintenance'expenses and also permits of the use of existing farmwagons. j

Referring to the drawings which form part of this specification Figure 1 is a side elevation of a truck carrier, a truck being shownl thereon and pon tions being broken away for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the truck.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a directing chute. Y

Fig. 4 is a part sectional end elevation of a combination ramp and bin showing` weighing mechanism thereof. j.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the combination ramp and bin, a truck being shown in both its weighing and delivering positions inV broken lines.

Fig. 6 is a detail viewu ofthe outer endsof j vehicle wheel guides. V y

Fig. 7 is a view of a modified ramp for use when trucks are to be j orojeotedV later- F ig. 11 `is a `view of `portionof a ramp to be usedjin 'conjunction with that shown in Fig. 10 when trucks are to be projected dirctfrom the truck carrier to a silo or the ire. j l j Fig. 12 is a. sectional view of a winding gear suitable for employment ,with a ramp Vof the character shownin Figs. 10 and 11.

Fig. 13 isa plan of the winding gear.

The invention includes a truck carrier comprising a base frame having a rear portion 2 upon which are mounted two suitable rails3. The .frame is also provided with a front. portion 4 above which is a ramp or incline 5. Carried at the lower end of the `ramp or incline 5 are suitable lower hinge pins 6 by which thev rear portion 2 is hingably 'attached to the. front portion 4. Carri'ed by the rampV 5 are two rails 6a corresponding with the rails 3. Disposed at the upper end of the ramp v5 are suitablehinge ypins 7 to which arepivoted wagon rails 8 corresponding with the rails 6a. Pivotally connected to the wagon rails 8 is a suitable hinged drop support 9. `Disposed below the .wagon rails Sand secured to the front portion 4 of the base frame are two wheel y guides 10. The guides in cross section are preferably channel shaped and each may be provided with a flared or enlarged entrance mouth. j

EngagingV the rails of the rear portion 2 are four (more or less) wheels 11, each v wheel being mounted upon the crank pin 12 Vof a crank axle 13. The axles 13 are mounted in suitable bearings carried by a truck or boxl 14 and are provided with suitable hand levers 15 whereby the. truck may be lowered andV the wheels elevated or vice versa;` Carried by the4 truck 14, adjacent each wheel 11, is an arm orlever. 16 having at its lower end a brake block or head 17.

By each lever 16 the corresponding brake block may be Asuitably operated whereby the truck cannot move backwardly when upon the ramp. Disposed at the front end of the truck 14 and also atthe rear end of the truck are front and rear pulley wheels 18. The truck at its top may be closed either partially or wholly and is provided with" side openings projecting from which are side chutes 19.4,'The side chutes, if' desired,

may be'hingedland capable of being yprojected into the truck toclos'e the side .openings'. Or sliding doors orfthe like may be provided. Disposed'within the truck 14 is an intermediate partition 20 having at its bottom a one way hinged door 21. The partition forms a front compartment indicated at 22 and a rear compartment indicated at .23.' Then front compartment, is providedV with a ldrop bottom door 24of any suitable character controlled in Vany well -known way. The rear compartment is provided with a back swinging door 25 of any suitable character controlled in any well-known way. Y e v Y Tith'therforegoing is used a farm wagon of any ordinary character comprising wheels 26"'above which is disposed a body 27. i The wagon at vits front end is provided with Vany ordinary detachable'shafts or like draftdevices."V At itsv rear endit is lprovided f 4with a suitable rope attachment or attach-V ments such as an eye 28 carried bythe rear axle of the vehicle.

'With the invention as so far described a truck carrier` is securedin any well-known way to the rear ofthe farm wagon and moved alongthe ground therewithf, The grain is'deliveredfrom the harvester into the truck-U14 which is disposedl upon vthe rear portion 2 ofthebaseframe lof the truckcarrier. When the truck` 14 is full or contains .sufficient grain the farm wagon may bebacked toward the upper end of the rampv 5. The wagon is guided in relation to the said rampby the wheel guides 10.

" As the rear end-l of the wagon Vapproaches i. the ramp, the rear Vedgefof its bottom will Vstrike against the 'depending drop support l9 which, as previously stated, is hinged to `the wagon rails 8. Hence, as the wagon continues its movement toward the ramp,

- the drop support will be' gradually elevated by thewagon bottom which will ultimately be brought'beneath the support into the po- `-sition indicate'diin Fig. 1, the said wagon zbottom being slightly lower than the wagon rails v8.V The 'rails are project'edrinto the wagon andas the support 9 is V elevated rest upon `the bottom .of the said wagon. The

support 9 is folded'or disposed between the Y f rails The shafts or other draft devices are Ynow"unhitched' from the wagon. Oneend of ad'raw line orrchain V29 isnow passedthe horses.

Aover the pulley wheels 18 ofthe truck and secured either to lthe back of the wagon or the upper end of the ramp. The front end -of the 'line 29is secured to the rear end of truck 14 permitting theY said truck to repose upon the floorV or bottom of thewa on,

thus obviating the .possibility of sli ing therefrom. The farm wagon is now moved Vaway from the ramp 5 land withdrawn from the rails l8 the support 9 of the wagon is withdrawn.

AThewheat contained in the truck is now transported to a railway 'station Vor like place.` At the railway stationV or similar 'place` Vthe rear' wheels of the wagon are which falls as backed uponV channel 'sectioned' wheel guides 30 having at theirV outeriends flared mouths 31. VVBearing upon the ground between the guides 30 is thelower endof'a drop support 32 the upper end Yof which is pivoted to two wheeluguides 30. ."lfh'e inner ends of the wagon rails 33 byhinge pins 34 or the like are pivoted to the receiving end 35 of a combination ramp and bin comprising a bottom 36, sides 37, and a delivery end 3S. Disposed above the receiving end `35,is an m- Vclined top 39 formingv a ramp havingat its lower end a lower pulley 40 and at its upper end an upper pulley 41. Disposed upon the ramp 39 are two rails 42 corresponding .with the wagon rails 33.Y vFormed in the sides, ends, or bottom of the combination ramp and bin maybe a4 Vsuitable discharge door or doorsY 43. Y

Disposed atthe delivery end 38 ofthe bin is a hinge pin 44 intermediately pivoted' to 4which is a directing chute 45. The chute may be provided with a locking pin or the like of .any suitable character wherebyrit sitions, as will be hereinafter understood.

Disposed at the upper end of the ramp 39 Visv a weighing and delivering 7. platform.

T his consists of two 'side levers or tumblers 46each `i'ntermediately pivoted to a cross pivot pin 47 carried'. by the upperV ends of opposite vertically movable -uprights "48. The levers correspond with the railsr42', the uprights being disposed in suitable guidewaysV 49V fo-rmedin Vthe sides37 of thebin.

` Secured tothe lower end of each upright 48 Y may be the upperv end of an Vinclined connecting piece 50, .the lower ends of the connecting pieces being secured Vto a Vbearing Vwagon rails 33,'. disposed above the/'said may be retained in either of two desired po- 'p Y piece or dropper 51, the lower end of which rests upon the inner end of an intermediately pivoted balance beam 52 having at its outer end an adjustable or other weight 53.

Disposed at each side ot the ramp and bin is a side hand lever 54, the hand levers being intermediately pivoted to a cross pivot pin 55 carried by the dropper 51. Pivoted to each hand lever are the lower ends of a pair of links 56, the upper end of each linlr being pivoted to the corresponding side lever 46 above the said hand lever 54. The uprights, guideways, connecting pieces, dropper and balance beam may be inclosed in any suitable way to prevent the grain encountering the same.

Upon a'farmer reaching the railway station or like place with his wagon containing the truck ot wheat or grain, the said wagon is backed upon the wheel guides 30, the wagon bottom engaging and elevating the hinged drop support 32 in the same way:

that the drop support 9 was engaged and elevated. rl`he bottom of the wagon being slightly lower than the wagon rails 33 per mits ofthe said rails being projected into the said wagon. When the support `32 is raised the rails 33 rest upon the bottom of the wagon. The hand levers 15 are now operated to engage the wheels 11 with the rails 33. @ne end of the line or chain 29 before mentioned (or a. second line may be used) is now secured to the forward end of the truck, that is, the end of the truck distant from the ramp. The said line is passed successively over the pulleys 40 and 41 of the inclined ramp 39. The front end of the line 29 is then secured to the eye 28 `on the back axle of the wagon. It is obvious that when the horses pull the wagon away trom the ramp 39 the line 29 secured to the wagon will cause the truck 14 to be drawn from the said wagon and moved up the ramp. To prevent the grain running from one end of the truck to thev other or overflowing from the same, the intermediate partition 2O is provided. The one way hinged door 21 prevents the grain from moving baclrwardly when the truck is traveling to the weighing and delivering platform. When the truck reaches the side levers 46, the uprights 48 move downwardly under the weight of the truck load of grain thereby operating the balance beam 52. To discharge the wheat from the truck, either ot'the hand levers 54 is operated causing the side levers 46 to pivot upon the pins 47, the said levers then assuming an inclined position. The truck may be prevented trom moving upon the inclined levers 46 by means of lthe bralreblocks 17 which may be controlled in any well-known way. In addition, the draw line 29 attached to the wagon prevents any sudden movement of the truck. Any suitable additional means may also be employed. Should it be cle-1 sired to discharge the wheat into a railway truck or other vehicle, the said vehicle is disposed beneath the intermediately pivoted directing chute 45 which is inclined outwardly. The rear swinging door 25 of the truclr is now opened and the grain runs from the said truck into the chute 45. The one way hinged door 21 permits of the grain in the front compartment 22 freely moving into the rear compartment 23. Should it, however, be desired to discharge the grain into the bin, the intermediately pivoted directing chute is inclined inwardly. The drop door 24 of the front compartment may now be opened in addition to the rear swinging` door 25. It is obvious that the grain discharging from the rear compartment 23 will be diverted into the bin by the chute 45.

When the truck is empty, the hand levers 54 are manipulated and the truck is again disposed in a horizontal position. The farm wagon is now backed again toward the lower end of the ramp thereby permitting the said truclr to slide down the said ramp under the control of the draw line 29. The truck may be started upon the ramp by hand. It is obvious that as the truck runs down the rails 42 of the ramp 39 it will be projected upon the wagon rails 33 within the farm wagon. The hand levers 15 may now be manipulated thereby resting the truck 14 upon the bottom of the wagon and lifting the wheels 11 from the wagon rails 33. The draw line 29 is untastened and the wagon may be moved from the ramp. As the wagon moves from the ramp it is ob vious that the hinged drop support 32 will automatically fall to the ground so that when the wagon has `been withdrawn trom the rails 33, the said rails are maintained in a correctl horizontal position to receive the next wagon. rlhe support 32 may be placed erect by hand it necessary.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 7, which is at present considered the most important form ot the invention, a separate ramp or incline may be used in lieu ot the ramp or incline 5. rThis construction is employed when a series ot trucks are to be accommodated laterally upon a wagon instead of a single truck being disposed longitudinally thereon. The wagon is then provided with a series of lateral rails 57. The modilied ramp consists of two lower rails 58, the lower ends of which are connected at 57n to the rails 3 of the truck carrier. Carried by the upper end ot each rail 58 is a lower hinge Vpin 59, pivoted to which is the lower end of an upper rail 60. Carried by the upper end ci each upper rail VGO is a hinge pin 61 pivoted to which is a suitable rail extension 62 by which the ramp may be attached to the wagon. Carried by the ramp is a suitable guide pulley 63. Disposed below the meeting 4ends Vof the lower and upper rails may be suitable locking lugs 64 extending between which and the said rails are braces or stays 65. Any suitable device may be employed to lock the lugs 641 togetherV when the ramp is in use. In this way a folding or collapsible ramp is provided whereby trucks may be projected from the truck carrier onto the wagon which is moved in relation to the ramp as each truck is mounted upon said wagon.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the truck onbox may be provided with Va suitableundercarriage or frame from which the sides and ends are removable. The sides and ends of the said truck or boX may also comprise suitable super-imposed and separate sections interlocked in any desired manner. The movement of the wheels in relation to the truck by cranked axles may be dispensed with. The front compartment is provided with a drop door 66 and the rear compartment with a drop door 67. The rear compartment is also provided with a backwardly swinging door 68.` The drop doors are employed when discharging grain into a silo or the like. The backwardly swinging door is employed'should it be necessary to discharge the grain from the wagonby tipping or inclining the same. Engaging the front drop door 66 are4 two front locking rods 69, pivoted to the rear ends of which are the outer ends of intermediately pivoted links 70. Pivoted to the inner end of each of the links 7 O is the front end of a rear sliding locking rod 71, the rear end of which engages the rear drop door 67. Carried by the front locking rods 69 is an operating bar 7 3 controlled by a hand lever or the like 7 4. The backwardly swingn ingv door 68 may be retained closed and opened at will by any suitable and similar locking devices. l/Vhen it is desired to discharge the contents of a truck into a silo, bin or ,the like, the hand lever 74 is operated causing the bar 78 to move the front and rear locking rods 69 and 71 toward each other, thereby permitting the drop doors 66 and67 to fall and the contents of the truck to be discharged.

In a further modification illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 provision is made for proj acting a truck either direct from the truck carrier or from the wagon to a silo orY the like in the field. The modification comprises a portable sectional ramp having a lower section comprising two lower rails 75, the lower ends of which are connected to the rails 3 of the truck carrier. Carried by the upper end of each rail is a hinge pin 76 pivoted to which is the lower end of an intermediate rail 77. Said rails 75and 77 may, if desired, be supported by any suitable collapsible framework, whereby this section of the ramp may be compactly folded.

portingV Wheels84 each mounted upon an Y *axlel 85 carried by the short arm 86 of a crank lever'87. Each crank lever is pivotally mounted -upon a pivot pin 88 carried by the framework. Slidably mounted in the framework 81 is a suitable draft pole 89.

With this modified construction the lower section of the ramp may be folded and carried by the main section of the ramp or by the wagonV when not in use. Should it be desired to transport the ramp from one position to another, the crank levers are oper.-

ated causing the supporting wheels 84 to bear the Weight of the ramp. The draft pole may be attached to the end of the wagon by which the ramp may be drawn to any desired position.

Should it be desired to discharge Vgrain direct from trucks into a silo or the like, the ramp is disposed adjacent or over the said silo, the crank levers being operated to rest the ramp upon the ground. The lower section is connected to the main section of the ramp and the truck carrier drawn to or disposed adjacent the lower ends of the rails 75. It will be obvious that by passing a draw line around the upper and lower guide pulleys, trucks may be projected up the ramp and to the silo.

With theconstruction represented in Figs, 10 and 11 there may be used a portable winding gear. This consists of a framework 90 carrying suitable bearings in which is mounted a vertical spindle 91. Secured to the spindle 91 is a Winding drum 92 and,

if desired, a brake drum 93. Fixed upon the spindle 91 is a ratchet Wheel 94. Engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel 94V is the inner end of a pawl `95, the outer end of which is pivoted to an intermediately pivoted lever 96 controlled by a foot or hand operated lever or rod 97. The pawl and its operating gear are carried by a draft pole 98, the inner end ofwhich is loosely mounted upon the spindle and the outer end of which carries suitable draft devices. Engaging-the brake drum is a suitable brake'99. The outer end of a draw line may be attached to the winding drum which by rotation causes a truck to be projected up the modified ramp to a silo. When it is desired to lower thevtruck down the ramp, the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet Wheel and the speed of the descending truck controlled by applying the brake 99 to thebrake drum 93.

medusa I-Iaving now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In grain-handling apparatus, the comN bination of a pair of horizontal rails and a ramp including a pair of inclined rails disposed in endwise alinement with the horizontal rails and pivoted thereto at their lower ends, said horizontal rails and ramp being portable bodily as a unit; a truck; and a draw line connected to the truck to haul it along the horizontal rails and then onto and u wardly along the ramp rails.

2. rain-handling apparatus, comprising a truck carrier portable bodily as a unit and consisting of a pair of base rails adapted to be supported upon the ground and a ramp including a pair of inclined rails disposed above and in endwise alinement with the base rails and pivotally connected thereto at their lower ends; a truck; and a draw line by the manipulation of which the truck is caused to travel along the base rails and then onto and upwardly along the ramp rails.

3. In grainhandling apparatus, the combination of a pair of horizontal rails and a ramp including a pair of inclined rails disposed in endwise alinement with the horizontal rails and pivoted thereto at their lower ends, the horizontal rails and the ramp being portable bodily as a unit and the ramp rails embodying upper and lower sections which are movable relatively to each other to permit the alternative extension or collapse of the ramp; a truck; and a draw line connected to the truck to haul it along the horizontal rails and then onto and upwardly alongI the ramp rails.

4. n grain-handling apparatus, the combination of a truck carrier portable bodily as a unit and consisting of a pair of base rails adapted to be supported upon the ground and a ramp including a pair of insections movable into and out of alinement and having coacting locking lugs at their meeting ends to retain them in alinement, and brace connections between said lugs and the respective rail sections.

6. In grain-handling apparatus, a ramp comprising upper and lower inclined rail sections movable into and out of alinement and having coacting locking lugs at their meeting ends to retain them in alinement, and brace connections between said lugs and the respective rail sections; a wagon having lateral rails thereon; and pivotal connections between th-e wagon rails and the upper ends of the upper ramp rail sections to enable the ramp to be transported bodily with the wagon.

7. In grain-handling apparatus, the combination of a truck carrier comprising ground rails and a ramp including a pair of inclined rails disposed in endwise' alinement with the ground rails and pivoted to the same at their lower ends; a truck having lateral rails thereon; and connections between the wagon rails and the upper ends of the ramp rails to enable the truck carrier to be moved bodily with the wagon.

In testimony whereof I ailiX my signature.

A. E. HEATH. Witness:

G. A. WHEN. 

